Shutdown Corner

Hyde slide ends when 49ers grab RB; so what does it mean for Gore, Lattimore?

A Michigan man drafting an Ohio State running back? Hey, it's the San Francisco 49ers — they're capable of almost anything.

Even though running back didn't appear to be a highly pressing need, the 49ers were more than willing to manipulate the board when they saw OSU RB Carlos Hyde tumbling deep into the second round. After two other backs, Bishop Sankey and Jeremy Hill, went off the board, the Niners knew they had to move back up to land Hyde.

But why would they? Consider that Frank Gore, great as he is, can't run like this forever. LaMichael James has been mentioned in trade talk. Marcus Lattimore, as exciting a player as he might be, is coming back from major knee surgery and is an unknown still.

So Hyde is an exceptional insurance policy who is the kind of running back Jim Harbaugh loves: tough, ornery and always falling forward. Like Gore. Like Lattimore, pre-knee injury.

The NFC West is a battleground, and it just got a little rougher with the addition of Hyde, SDC's top-ranked back and a brilliant pick for the Niners.